Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at found2, -er1
founder
2
[foun-der]
verb (used without object)
(of a ship, boat, etc.) to fill with water and sink.
to fall or sink down, as buildings, ground, etc.: Built on a former lake bed, the building has foundered nearly ten feet.
to become wrecked; fail utterly: The project foundered because public support was lacking.
to stumble, break down, or go lame, as a horse: His mount foundered on the rocky path.
to become ill from overeating.
Veterinary Pathology. (of a horse) to suffer from laminitis.
verb (used with object)
to cause to fill with water and sink: Rough seas had foundered the ship in mid-ocean.
Veterinary Pathology. to cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis.
noun
Veterinary Pathology. laminitis.
Origin of founder
2
1300–50;Middle Englishfoundren < Middle Frenchfondrer to plunge to the bottom, submerge < Vulgar Latin*fundorāre, derivative of *fundor-, taken as stem of Latinfundus bottom
Related formsun·foun·dered, adjectiveun·foun·der·ing, adjective
early 14c., from Old French fondrer "collapse; submerge, sink, fall to the bottom," from fond "bottom," from Latin fundus "bottom, foundation" (see fund (n.)). Related: Foundered; foundering.
n.1
"one who establishes, one who sets up or institutes something," mid-14c., from Anglo-French fundur, Old French fondeor, from Latin fundator, agent noun from fundare (see found (v.1)).
n.2
"one who casts metal," c.1400, agent noun from found (v.2).
